STEPPIN’ OUT – The film tapped 60 dancers to perform with Jason Segel and Amy Adams for the “Everything’s Great” opening musical performance.
• Hollywood Blvd. was shut down for two evenings to record the finale dance scene of the reprise of “Everything’s Great,” featuring 100 dancers.

PRETTY PIG -- A total of 12 different costumes were made for Miss Piggy—more costume changes than any other actor in the film.

SO BIG -- The largest Muppet, Thog, stands over 9.5 feet tall and is 4 feet wide.

TOP TEACHER – Amy Adam’s character Mary is a teacher with 16 students. Thus, no less than 16 perfect apples sit on the edge of the stellar teacher’s desk.

FILMMAKER FRENZY
AT THE HELM -- Director James Bobin makes his film directorial debut. Bobin co-created HBO’s “Flight of the Conchords,” which he wrote, directed and executive produced.

CUE THE MUSIC -- Bret McKenzie of “Flight of the Conchords” wrote and produced three original songs and served as music supervisor for the film.
• McKenzie fills some big shoes: “The Muppet Movie” was nominated for two Oscars®: Best Music, Original Song (“Rainbow Connection”) and Best Music, Original Sound Score.

ALL IN THE FAMILY -- Choreographer Michael Rooney is the son of Mickey Rooney, who appears in the film in a cameo role. This is the first time the two have ever worked together on a film.

TICKLING THE IVORIES -- Rowlf’s original piano is back—incorporated into the Muppet Show orchestra.

STRUMMING THE SAME STRINGS -- Kermit uses the banjo from 1979’s “The Muppet Movie” during the “Rainbow Connection” performance in Disney’s “The Muppets.”
• The staging of the scene features Kermit on a replica of the log where he was first found strumming his banjo in the very first Muppet movie. Miss Piggy shows up in a rowboat very much like the one the late Dom DeLuise used when he joined Kermit in their sweet duet.

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
SEEING GREEN – Disney’s “The Muppets” was a green set (in more ways than one) with an environmental steward who made sure the proper recycling receptacles were utilized on set. All of paper products were made from recycled materials and were compostable. The production also provided each crew member with aluminum refillable water bottles to cut down on the use of plastic bottles and paper cups. Water was readily available on set for cast and crew to fill their personal water bottles.

MAKING MUPPET STUDIOS -- The Muppet Theater, built on Stage 28 on the Universal Studios Lot, incorporated parts of the old “Phantom of the Opera” set into its audience section.

The Jim Henson Company gate was turned into the Muppet Studios entrance. A sign showcased a series of tour attractions, along with their sad fates:

Fozzie's Joke Room: Closed

Gonzo's Cannonade: Closed for Repair

Rowlf's Music Parlor: Under Renovation

Dr. Honeydew's Laboratory of Fun: Out of Order

TRICKY TOUR -- Walter's tour through Muppet Studios actually went through The Jim Henson Company on La Brea, Crossroads of the World on Sunset Blvd., the outside of Stage 3 on the Disney Lot in Burbank, two soundstage sets on the Universal Lot (Kermit's Office and the Muppet Theater interior).

SIGNATURE ARCHES -- A set design replicating the arches from the opening title sequence of “The Muppet Show” was recreated and used in the Muppet telethon.

THEY’VE GOT CHARACTER
RIBET – Kermit the Frog first appeared on “Afternoon, Footlight Theater” and “Sam and Friends” in 1955.
• A balloon of Kermit appears annually in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade.
• Kermit has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
• Kermit celebrated his 50th Anniversary in Kermit, Texas, in 2005 and received a key to the city.

PROMINENT PIG – Miss Piggy first appeared in the chorus on “The Herb Alpert Special” in 1974.
• She appeared as 1st Sow in the “Return to the Planet of The Pigs” bit on “The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence” in 1975 (which was, in effect, the pilot for “The Muppet Show”).
• She was also a chorus pig in the first season of “The Muppet Show.” Her break-out performance was in a number called “Temptation” on the Juliet Prowse episode.
• The confident character was called Miss Piggy for the first time on “The Muppet Show” in 1976.

MAKING HIS DEBUT -- Walter was a character conceptualized by Jason Segel specifically for Disney’s “The Muppets.”

THE GREAT – Gonzo first appeared in “The Great Santa Claus Switch” as the Cigar Box Frackle in 1970.
• He appeared on “The Herb Alpert Special” in 1974.
• Gonzo as he’s now known debuted on “The Muppet Show” in 1976.

WOCKA WOCKA – Fozzie first appeared on “The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence” in 1975.

STAR-SPANGLED -- Sam the Eagle first was offended and appalled by the Muppets on “The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence” in 1975.

PRE-HEATED -- The Swedish Chef kicked off his cooking career on “The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence” in 1975.

RAT-A-TAT -- Rizzo the Rat originally appeared as an uncredited vermin in “The Muppets Musicians of Bremen” in 1972.
• He was revamped by Steve Whitmire for “The Muppet Show” sometime between 1978 and 1980, and credited as Rizzo the Rat for the first time in 1981’s “The Great Muppet Caper.”

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Walt Disney Studios provided us with materials for their upcoming film "The Muppets", to be released on November 23, 2011 - this installment features Animal.

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In Disneys The Muppets, Animal is enrolled in an anger management class. But, with help from the Muppets, he has achieved personal & artistic balance. Now, Animal helps you find your inner Animal with

ANIMALS FIVE RULES OF COOL
A guide to life from Drummer, Rock Icon, Force of Nature,
Anger Management Graduate Animal

LIVE LOUD!!!!  Anything worth doing is worth doing at high-decibel. Whether its playing drums, singing, expressing your opinion or simply wearing a really loud sports coat, this is a surefire way to make sure the world knows who you are, where you are and in which direction youre headed.

EAT NOW!  There are those who believe it is important to stay hungry in life, to put off rewards and defer gratification. Animal is not one of those. He devours lifeliterallywhich goes a long way towards explaining his mealtime nickname: the Appetite with Legs.

FRIENDS!  Good friends watch your back, take care of you and always follow your beat. With his bandmates in the Electric Mayhem, Animal has found kindred spirits. (Oh sure, sometimes they yank his chain, but thats only to make sure he doesnt miss the tour bus.)

ROMANCE!  Animal is not much for subtlety when it comes to finding romance. His idea of flirtatious small talk usually consists of the phrase WOMAN! WOMAN! But it works for him. As for you, may we suggest finding a slightly less assertive approach to finding love.

NICE BUNNY!  Everyone needs a sense of security, a quiet space where they can find peace. For Animal, its time well spent with his bunny, whose name is Nice Bunny. For you, it can be anything from soaking in pond scum (Kermit) to wearing tapioca-filled tap shoes (Gonzo). Wherever you find it, embrace your bliss. Just dont squeeze too hard.

STATLER & WALDORF (Statler & Waldorf) return to the balcony in Disneys The Muppets as feisty and curmudgeonly as ever. These two old hecklers let the insults flyas well as serving an important public service. We didnt want to be in the movie, explains Statler, but we felt it was our duty. Adds Waldorf, Yeah, somebodys got to warn the rest of the audience what theyre in for.

This time, the duo takes center stage, sharing the fine print of the Muppet contract with villain Tex Richman. Of course, Statler and Waldorf (The Muppet Movie, Great Muppet Caper, TVs The Muppet Show) dont realize that Tex plans to raze Muppet Studios and drill for oil, which would mean the end of their balconyand their heckling.

One thing is certain. Statler and Waldorf think everyone should see this movie. We had to sit through it, says Statler. The least folks could do is share our pain.

THE SWEDISH CHEF (The Swedish Chef) is behind some rather combustible culinary creations in Disneys The Muppets, especially after he discovers a long forgotten refrigerator in the rundown Muppet Studios.

The Swedish Chef (The Muppet Show) is equally at home in the kitchen and on set. Wherever he goes, hes fighting a never-ending battle against food and ingredients; a battle he rarely, if ever, wins. It didnt take much convincing to get him to return to Muppet Studios when production kicked off.

Zikkledeffer gøøbee der smidleflingen, says the Chef. Vooshkee høøksker mit gingen agloofe majuskee! Børk! Børk! Børk! (Roughly translated: Its not everyday you get offered to play the role of Chef from Sweden. Besides, I had a soufflé in the oven and an afternoon free, so why not!? Børk! Børk! Børk!)

DR. BUNSEN HONEYDEW & BEAKER (Dr. Bunsen Honeydew & Beaker) are still hard at work in Muppet Labswhere their latest invention shrinks poor Beaker (The Muppet Show) to pocket size. Undeterred by this diminutive debacle, Beaker fortunately returns to normal size to complete his latest big-screen appearance, all with the help of his mentor and boss, the legendary Dr. Bunsen Honeydew (The Muppet Show).

We are scientific consultants on the movie as well as scientific consultants in the movie, says Honeydew. Very meta, dont you agree?

SAM THE EAGLE (Sam the Eagle) lends his patriotic disdain to Disneys The Muppets in a heroic effort to add dignity to the telethons opening musical number and spirit to the barbershop quartet.

Sam Eagle (The Muppet Show), who has always looked askance at the Muppets supposedly entertaining efforts, explains his reason for being part of Disneys The Muppets. I play an American Eagle who stands for all that is good and decent in the world, thus standing in sharp contrast to the rest of the weirdoes in this movie.

You could say that this is Rowlf unleashed, says Rowlf, who has been with the Muppets since the early days. In this movie, I really get to do what I like bestplay piano, sing, tell jokes and take myself for long walks around the neighborhood.

SCOOTER (Scooter) takes the threat to Muppet Studios in Disneys The Muppets to heart. Im stage manager of the Muppet Theater, explains Scooter. I try to help Kermit save the studio, cause without a theater and stage, theres really not much for a stage manager to do.

Scooter (The Muppet Show) gets to play a new role in the movieas hostwhen, in a pinch, Kermit calls on Scooter to fill in for him on stage. Unfortunately the classic advice Scooter gets to calm his nervespretend that the audience is nakeddoesnt necessarily work for him.

DR. TEETH AND THE ELECTRIC MAYHEM BAND (Dr. Teeth, Floyd Pepper, Janice, Zoot & Animal) rock the house, shake the foundations and do both major and minor structural damage with their funky, heavy rockin musical sounds. And even though Animal has allegedly sworn off drumming in exchange for a more peaceful existence, Dr. Teeth, Floyd, Janice and Zoot have other ideas in mind for their legendary drummerall of which lead to a seriously rockin rendition of Rainbow Connection.

Dr. Teeth highly recommends Disneys The Muppets. If you see only one movie, he says, this is absotively, possolutely the one to see! And if you see two movies this year, Id recommend goin to see this one twice. We need the gig, you dig?

Walt Disney Studios provided us with this interview with Jason Segel, writer, producer, and star of "The Muppets" coming to theaters November 23rd.

From Walt Disney Studios:

JASON SEGEL (Gary/Written By/Executive Producer) first gained wide attention for his role as Jason in Judd Apatows hit comedy Knocked Up. He subsequently wrote the screenplay for, and starred as Peter, in director Nicholas Stollers Forgetting Sarah Marshall. He also served as co-producer and received a writing credit on that films sequel Get Him to the Greek.

Segels other feature film acting credits include Bad Teacher, Gullivers Travels and I Love You, Man. In addition, he provided the voice for Vector in the animated hit Despicable Me.

He will soon be seen in Jeff Who Lives at Home, as well as The Five-Year Engagement (for which he and Nicholas Stoller also wrote the screenplay), opposite Emily Blunt.

On television, Segel currently stars as Marshall, opposite Alyson Hannigan, Josh Radnor and Neil Patrick Harris, on the hit CBS comedy series How I Met Your Mother. He had a recurring role as Eric on the FOX series Undeclared, produced by Judd Apatow. He also portrayed Nick Andopolis, a lanky, fun-loving freak dreaming of stardom as a rock-and-roll drummer on Apatows Emmy® Award-nominated NBC series Freaks and Geeks.

Segel was born and raised in Los Angeles, where he continues to reside.

Why did you want to help bring the Muppets back to the big screen?
It started when I was a kidthe Muppets were my first comic influence and I was in love with puppetry. I just thought it was an amazing art form. We ended Forgetting Sarah Marshall with a lavish puppet musical and The Jim Henson Company designed the puppets. Something started growing in my belly and Nick and I came up with this idea and pitched it to Disney. Disney liked the idea so we wrote the script.

Our whole goal was to make sure that if we were going to do a new Muppet movie that it live up to the expectations of how everyone feels about the Muppets. Whenever I tell anyone, the response is always two-fold: Oh my God, that's awesome. And then, You better not mess it up.

Describe your character, Gary.
Gary is from Smalltown, USA. Hes very naïve, sweet and innocent, and hes very much in love with his girlfriend Mary. Hes torn between his brother and growing into a new phase of maturation where its time to be with his girlfriend. Hes lived with his brother forever so that is his big struggle.

What is Disneys The Muppets about?
The movie starts out with me and my brother Walter, whose wildest fantasy is to meet the Muppets. My goal is to take a vacation to L.A. with my girlfriend Mary. So we all come to L.A. and while taking a tour of Muppet Studios, which are now decrepit, we find out that they're going to be torn down to drill for oil. So we have to find Kermit, reunite the Muppets who are now disbanded because of professional rivalriesand put on a show to raise enough money to save the studio.

Can you share more about Walter?
Walter the characterits funny, thats his actual name as wellweird coincidenceWalter is naive, sweet, innocent, wide-eyed, hes very much like Kermit before Kermit became famous. But he just wants to belong. Hes looking for a family, really. The Muppets are the only people hes ever seen who were like him, so his quest is to become one of the Muppets.

Describe some of the other characters in Disneys The Muppets.
Mary is a bit of a tomboyshe teaches shop and fixes cars. But her big dream is to marry Garymewhich, you know, who doesn't have that dream? Amy Adams is super sweet and super innocent and with credits like Enchanted, she was just perfect for this role. She just really gets the joke and she's willing to play. We really lucked out.

Kermit's the every man. He's like Atticus Finch. He just wants to be an upright citizen and be kind. Its all about laughter and love and doing what's right.

Fozzie is a lot like me. Fozzie has never said a bad thing about anyone and his jokes aren't that good, but he's going to keep on trying.

Gonzo's a wild card. He's the loose cannon of the group, but like all of the Muppets, hes incredibly nice.

Miss Piggy is the ultimate diva.

Animal is the part of all of us that is unhinged. Animal is like our Id. He's like Caliban from The Tempest.

Rowlf's really cool, sweet and mellow. The entire Electric Mayhem band is like New Orleans: they've got a little Cajun to all of them, theyre super nice and a little funky.

How did you feel about singing and dancing with the Muppets?
In the finale of the movie, there are 200 extras, 100 dancers and 50 Muppets. It was very surreal and it happened to take place on my birthday. I walked out from my trailer thinking I was coming to film and everyone sang Happy Birthday, including the Muppets. I kept thinking, Ive tricked everyone. Somehow Ive made this weird childhood dream come true. It was the craziest thing ever.

What makes the Muppets so special in your eyes?
Modern comedy makes jokes at other peoples expense. The Muppets never make fun of anybody. Theyre all about being good and nice and trying to make the world a better place. Its easy to get a laugh out of making fun of somebody, but the Muppets never relied on that.

DISNEY TWENTY-THREE MAGAZINE GOES BEHIND THE SCENES WITH STARS OF THE MUPPETS

D23: The Official Disney Fan Club Celebrates 25 Years of Groundbreaking Animation with the Creative Minds at Pixar ​

From Disney's D23 Press Release:

BURBANK, Calif.  November 3, 2011  Its time to raise the curtain! Kermit, Miss Piggy, Animal, Gonzo, Fozzie and friends grace the cover of the Winter 2011 issue of Disney twenty-three magazine, on stands November 15. These beloved characters return to the silver screen in the much-anticipated new film The Muppets (in theaters November 23).

Exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes details on the making of The Muppets and a remembrance of Muppets creator Jim Henson with hisson, Brian Henson, and famed Muppets performer Steve Whitmire are just the beginning of what Disney twenty-three has in store for readers in its latest edition.

Throughout the magazine, readers will get in-depth insight into the best of Disney, including a special feature that celebrates the 25th anniversary of Pixar, which was established in 1986. Pixar artists discuss the 25 most important lessons theyve learned during Pixars first quarter century, and detail scenes that were cut from such classic films as Wall*E, A Bugs Life and Toy Story 3.

Readers will also go on a journey through the making of Walt Disneys classic animated film Dumbo, now celebrating its 70th anniversary, with rare concept art and development sketches recently discovered by The Walt Disney Archives and published for the first time in Disney twenty-three magazine.

A treasure trove of fascinating stories and spectacular imagery, the Winter 2011 issue of Disney twenty-three magazine also features:

· Discoveries made by author Timothy S. Susanin as he investigated Walt Disneys missing decade  the years leading up to the creation of Mickey Mouse  for his new book, Walt Before Mickey: Disneys Early Years 1919- 1928;

· A colorful recollection of Disneys involvement in the fabled Rose Parade;

Disney twenty-three magazine is available at a growing number of retail locations across the country for$15.95, and can also be purchased online at DisneyStore.com and throughout the Disneyland® and Walt Disney World® Resorts. Gold-level members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, are treated to each issue delivered directly to their mailbox, accompanied by a special collectible gift.

D23: The Official Disney Fan Club celebrates the remarkable past, present and future of Disney, taking its name from 1923, the year Walt Disney founded his world-famous company. D23 brings its members a host of exclusive benefits, including a bi-weekly e-mail newsletter; a host of discounts and special offers; free gifts throughout the year; and exclusive, member-only special events.